Strand supply apparatus



Sept. 1, 1953 J. B. GRAY m ETAL 2,650,772

STRAND SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed June 17, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l g a INVENTORS Q 3 31 J B. GRAi, 1Z4" Q S M. MART/N Y By I ATTORNEY P 1953 J. B. GRAY m ET AL 2,650,772

STRAND SUPPLY APPARATUS Filed June 17, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTORS J a a/mgzz S. M. MART/N ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1, 1953 STRAND SUPPLY APPARATUS John B. Gray III, Essex, and Samuel M. Martin, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,672

10 Claims.

This invention relates to strand supply apparatus and more particularly to strand supply apparatus for use with continuous extrusion and vulcanization apparatus, or the like, permitting changing from one supply source to another.

In the operation of continuous extrusion and vulcanization machines to manufacture covered cores, an elongated, filamentary core, such as, for example, a conductive wire, is advanced continuously through such a machine, which sequentially forms a covering of vulcanizable compound around the core and vulcanizes the covering. When one length of the core is almost exhausted, another length of the core is connected thereto to start the new length through the apparatus. However, in the past, it has been impossible to connect a new length of the core to one almost completely processed without stopping the machine, and such stopping slows production and sometimes causes waste by overcu-ring the portion of the covering being vulcanized while the machine is stopped.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved strand supply apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improved strand supply apparatus for use with continuous extrusion and vulcanization apparatus, or the like.

An apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention may include means for supporting a supply of a length of a filamentary article, means for advancing the filamentary article from the article supplying means thereof, means for clamping the article near the trailing end of said length thereof as the supply is exhausted so that the trailing end may be connected to the leading end of a second length of filamentary article, and means for actuating the article-clamping means to release the first-mentioned length after the two lengths have been connected.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description of a strand supply apparatus forming a specific embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevation of an apparatus forming one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section taken along line 3-3, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section taken along line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a strand supply apparatus for permitting a continuous extrusion and vulcanization machine i2 to operate Without interruption while a trailing end of a core [4 drawn from a supply reel I8 is connected to a leading end l8 of a core 20 on a fresh supply reel 22. The drag on the reel it is controlled by the position of a brake-adjusting lever 2|, and drag on the reel 22 is controlled by the position of a brake-adjusting lever 23. The levers 2| and 23 adjust hydraulically actuated brakes 24 and 25, respectively, operating on the reels l6 and 22 to tension the cores. The machine [2 continuously extrudes and vulcanizes a jacket on the core 14 as the core is pulled through the machine by a capstan (not shown) and from the supply reel IE5 at a constant rate of speed by a capstan 28. The jacketed core is wound on a suitable takeup device (not shown).

The apparatus includes a runout detector 29 comp-rising a roller 38 (Fig. 3) mounted on a fixed spindle 32 below a guide 34 fixed to the spindle. The guide 34 includes cam lugs, of which only one designated 36 is shown, spaced apart sufficiently to permit a roller 38 mounted on a spindle 40 to enter therebetween. The spindle Ail projects through a slot 42 in a mounting plate 44, and is rigidly secured to an actuating rod 46 mounted slidably in bearings 48 and 59. A compression spring 52 urges the rod toward a switch 54.

When the core M is positioned between the rollers 3i; and 35, it holds the actuating rod 46 out of contact with a button 56 of the switch 54. However, when there is no core between these rollers, the spring 52 forces the actuating rod t6 against the button 56 to close the switch 54. Closing of the switch closes a circuit to a winding 58 of a solenoid 69 (Fig. 2) to energize the winding. This pulls an armature 62 of the solenoid downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, to turn a brake arm 64 in a counterclockwise direction through a link 66, a bellcrank lever 63 and a link it. The brake arm 64 is urged normally by the action of a tension spring 12 to a position in which a brake shoe 14 carried thereby is out of engagement with the core I4 as the core contacts a guide sheave i6 mounted rotatably on a fixed arbor it. The brake arm 64 is mounted on a cam l9 eccentric with respect to the arbor 18, and when the brake arm is swung in a counterclockwise direction by energization of the solenoid winding 53, the brake shoe 14 is swung hard against the core I4 to clamp the core between the brake shoe and the guide sheave I6. The position of the cam 19 may be adjusted by loosening a nut 88 and a nut 8|, adjusting the cam, and retightening the nuts 88 and 8 I Thus, compensation for wear of the brake shoe, adjustment of the braking force and protection of the solenoid is provided.

The core I4 passes under the guide sheave I6 and under a guide sheave 82 mounted on a fixed arbor 84, and passes above a guide sheave 86. The guide sheave 86 is supported by a bracket 88 and normally is in the position thereof shown in full lines in Fig. l. The bracket 88 is connected to both ends of a cable 98, which is secured to a counterweight 9| (Fig. 5) and passes over sheaves 92 and 94 mounted at the top and bottom, respectively, of a tower 95. When the bracket is unhooked from a hook 96 and the braking force on the reel I6 is relieved, the sheave 86 is pulled upwardly by the counterweight secured to the bracket 88 to form a storage loop 98 in the core I4 in cooperation with the sheaves I6 and 82. The core I4 may be braked sufliciently to overcome the effect of the counterweight 9| to lower the sheave 86 slowly.

Operation The core I4 normally is advanced continuously by the capstan 28 between the rollers 38 and 38 (Figs. 1 and 3), under the sheaves I6, over the sheave 86, which is in its full-line position, under the sheave 82, around the capstan 28, through the extrusion and vulcanization machine I2,

which forms and vulcanizes a jacket there- 1.-

through the machine I2 is not affected during the formation of the storage loop because the capstan 28 advances the core at a constant rate of speed and the supply reel I8 merely gives up the core at a rate of speed greater than normal.

Immediately after the trailing end of the core I4 has been pulled through the rollers 38 and 38 (Fig. 3), the actuating rod 46 is pressed against the button 56 of the switch 54 to cause energization of the solenoid winding 58 (Fig. 2). This swings the brake arm 64 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, to force the brake shoe I4 against the core I4 to press the core tightly against the sheave 16. This holds this portion of the core against advancement from the tension on the core from the cable 98 (Fig. 1) and the tension on the core I4 from the capstan 28 pulls the sheave 88 slowly toward its full-line position, whereby the storage loop I88 is used up at the normal rate of advancement of the core by the capstan.

Meanwhile, the operator connects the leading end I8 of the core 28 to the trailing end of the core I4, and pushes the core 28 past and below the cam lugs 3636 (Fig. 3) of the guide 48.

This moves the actuating rod 46 out of contact r with the switch 54 to deenergize the solenoid winding 58 (Fig. 2). This permits the tension spring 12 to pull the brake shoe I4 out of clamping engagement with the core I4, and advancement of the trailing end of the core I4 and the 4 core 28 connected thereto is begun. The cam lugs 36-36 (Fig. 3) of the guide 38 keep the core from sliding upwardly between the rollers 38 and 38, as viewed in Fig. 3, and the springurged roller 38 tends to keep the core under the cam lugs.

The lever 23 then is actuated by the operator to increase the braking force on the reel 22 to an extent that the drag on the core 28 just pulls the sheave 86 to its full-line position. The bracket 88 then is latched in this position. Thus, the cutover from the core I4 to the core 28 is accomplished without affecting the jacketing operation, and the same tension as that maintained on the core I4 is maintained as it is jacketed because the operation tension is that required to just pull the sheave 86 to its full-line position.

If the operator should fail to make the connection between the ends of the cores I4 and 28 before the storage loop I88 is exhausted, the trailing end of the core I4 is pulled to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, by the capstan 28 (Fig. 1) with sufficient force to swing the brake shoe I4 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the trailing end of the core I4 to be pulled past the sheaves I6, 86 and 82 without breaking the core I4. However, while the winding 58 is energized, the brake shoe is pressed against the core H with sufiicient force relative to the force of the counterweight 9| on the sheave 86 to prevent the core I4 from slipping therepast until all the storage loop I88 is exhausted. Thus, the cutover device prevents breakage of the core I4 and possible damage to the machine if the connection is not made before the expiration of a reasonable length of time.

What is claimed is:

1. A strand supply apparatus, which comprises means for supporting a length of a filamentary article, means for advancing the length of filamentary article from the supporting means, article-clampin means positioned between the supporting means and the article-advancing means, a detector for actuating the clamping means to clamp the article near the trailing end of said length thereof as the filamentary article is exhausted so that said end may be connected to the leading end of a second length of filamentary article and means for actuating the articleclamping means to release the first-mentioned length after the two lengths have been connected.

2. A strand supply apparatus, which comprises means for supporting a length of a filamentary article, means for advancing the length of filamentary article from the supporting means, means positioned between the supporting means and the article-advancing means for deflecting the filamentary article to lengthen the path thereof between the supporting means and the article-advancing means, clamping means positioned between the article-deflecting means and the supporting means, a detector for actuating the clamping means to clamp the article near the trailing end of said length thereof as the filamentary article is exhausted so that said end may be connected to the leading end of a second length of filamentary article, said article-deflecting means serving to give up a portion of the first-mentioned length of filamentary article While the article-clamping means is operative so that the operation of the article-advancing means is not interrupted, and manually operable means for actuating the article-clamping means to release the first-mentioned length after the two lengths have been connected.

A strand supply ap aratus, which comprises a nlar'nent su'pplying mechanism, means for ad vancing continuously at filament from the i i-la ment-supplyi-ng mechanism, means resiliently actuated and positioned between the mechanism and the filament-advancing means for storing a portion of the filament and for giving up the stored portion of the filament, means resiliently actuated and positioned between the filamentsupplying mechanism and the filament-storing means for clamping the filament, and runo-ut detector means for actuating the filament-clamping means, the filament-clamping means serving to hold the filament so long'as there is a portion thereof stored by the filament-storing means and permitting the filament to be advanced therepast when the stored portion of the filament is exhausted, whereby breakage of the filament is prevented.

4. A strand supply apparatus, which comprises a supply reel, means for advancing continuously a filament supplied by the supply reel, a pair of guide sheaves mounted on stationary axes for guiding the filament, a third guide sheave for guiding the portion of the filament between the first-mentioned guide sheave, means for urging the third guide sheave in a direction tending to form a storage loop of the filament, a pivotal brake arm mounted eccentrically with respect to the one of the first-mentioned guide sheaves nearer in the path of the strand to the supply reel, a brake shoe movable by the arm between a position clamping the filament against the lastmentioned sheave and a position out of clamping engagement with the filament, a solenoid ineluding a winding and an armature, means connecting the armature to the brake arm, a switch for causing energization of the winding when actuated to move the brake shoe into clamping engagement with the filament, a roller mounted on a fixed axis, a movable roller urged toward the first-mentioned roller, and means responsive to the position of the movable roller for actuating the switch when the filament is drawn from between the rollers.

5. A strand supply apparatus, which comprises a filament-supplying mechanism, an adjustable brake for braking the filament-supplying means, a second filament-supplying mechanism, a second adjustable brake for braking the second filament-supplying means, means for advancing continuously a filament supplied by the firstmentioned filament-supplying mechanism, a pair of guide sheaves mounted on stationary axes for guiding the filament, a third guide sheave for guiding the portion of the filament between the first-mentioned guide sheaves, means for urging the third guide sheave in a direction tending to form a storage loop of the filament, means for clamping the filament to permit the trailing end thereof to be connected to the leading end of a filament supplied by the second-mentioned filament-supplying means, a runout detector for actuating the filament-clamping means, means for actuating the first-mentioned adjustable brake before operation of the runout detector to permit the sheave-urging means to move the third guide sheave to a position such that a storage loop is formed, and means for actuating the second-mentioned adjustable brake after said connection has been made to pull the third guide sheave against the action of the sheave-urging means to a position in which the storage loop is substantially exhausted.

6. A strand supply apparatus, which comprises a supply reel, means for advancing continuously a filament supplied by the supply reel, a pair of guide sheaves mounted on stationary axes for guiding the filament, a third guide sheave for guiding the portion of the filament between the first-mentioned guide sheaves, means for urging the third guide Shea-vein a direction tending to form a storage loop of the filament, a pivotal brake arm, adjustable means for mounting the brake arm eccentrically with respect to the one of the first-mentioned guide sheaves nearer in the path of the strand to the supply reel, a brake shoe movable by the arm between a position clamping the filament against the last-mentioned sheave and a position out of clamping engagement with the filament, and a runout detector for actuating the brake arm.

'7; A strand supply apparatus, which comprises means for rotatably supporting a supply of strand material, means for advancing the strand from the supply sheave along a predetermined path, a sheave for guiding the strand as it is withdrawn from said supply, a pivotal clamping arm, adjustable means for mounting the arm eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the sheave, a shoe fixed on the free end of said clamping arm adjacent to the periphery of the sheave, a solenoid including a winding and an armature, means connecting the arm to the armature, and means for energizing the solenoid winding to move the arm and the shoe in a direction opposite to that of the advancing strand with suflicient force to clamp the trailing end of the strand against the sheave as the supply thereof is exhausted so that the trailing end may be connected to the leading end of a strand drawn from a second strand supply so long as a predetermined tension is applied to the strand but with insufiicient force to hold the strand if the tension applied to the strand exceeds said predetermined tension.

8. An apparatus for clamping the trailing end of a strand being advanced from a supply thereof along a predetermined path of travel, which comprises a sheave positioned adjacent to the supply for guiding the strand, a pivotal clamp mounted eccentrically with respect to the axis of the sheave, means for pivoting the clamp to grip the trailing end of the strand against the sheave when the supply thereof is exhausted so as to apply a braking force to the strand, and means for adjusting the force applied by the clamp so as to cause the clamp to hold the strand stationary when the tension applied to the strand is less than a predetermined value and to release the strand when the tension applied thereto exceeds said predetermined value.

9. An apparatus for clamping the trailing end of a strand being advanced from a supply thereof along a predetermined path of travel, which comprises a sheave positioned near the supply for guiding the advancing strand, a pivotal clamp mounted eccentrically with respect to the axis of the sheave, a solenoid including a winding and an armature, means connecting the armature to the clamp, means for energizing the solenoid winding to pivot the clamp to grip the trailing end of the strand against the sheave when the supply thereof is exhausted so as to apply a braking force to the strand, and means for adjusting the force applied by the clamp so as to cause the clamp to hold the strand stationary when the tension applied to the strand is less than a predetermined value and to release the strand when the tension applied thereto exceeds said predetermined value.

10. An apparatus for clamping the trailing end of a strand being advanced from a supply thereof along a predetermined path of travel, which comprises a sheave positioned near the supply for guiding the advancing strand, a pivotal arm mounted eccentrically with respect to the axis of the sheave, a shoe mounted on theiree end of the arm, a solenoid including a winding and an armature, means connecting the armature to the arm, means for energizing the solenoid winding to pivot the arm to cause the shoe to grip the trailing end of the strand against the sheave when the supply thereof is exhausted so as to apply a braking force to the strand, means for adjusting the force applied by the shoe to hold the strand stationary when the tension applied to the strand is less than a predetermined value and to release the strand when the tension applied thereto exceeds said predetermined value,

and manually operable means'for de-energizing the solenoid winding to release the shoe from engagement with the strand.

JOHN B. GRAY III.

SAMUEL M. MARTIN.

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